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The Major League Rugby weekend wraps up with a Sunday night encounter between the Seawolves and the Jackals at Starfire Stadium. Dallas remain winless but Seattle are in the thick of the playoff hunt and with only four games left need every point they can scrape together.
Allen Clarke will have been frustrated with his team’s performance in Austin, particularly at the set piece. He has resisted change, however, and is taking no chances with only minor alterations to the lineup.
Andrew Durutalo returns on the flank with Samu Manoa pushing up to the second row. Brad Tucker is the odd man out, dropping to the bench with Travis Larsen left out completely. Lopeti Aisea takes the spot of Cole Zarcone as one of three backs in reserve.
The Jackals had a tough time at home against San Diego and lost both wingers Juan Pablo Aguirre and Eric Naposki to injury. Two new names will feature this week with six personnel changes to the run-on side.
Former Austin winger Rodrick Waters was signed during the week and he jumps straight in on the right wing. Cael Hodgson moves back to the left side with Chad London joining Campbell Johnstone in the midfield. Chris Pennell returns to his favored fullback spot and there is a surprise choice at flyhalf with usual scrumhalf Tom Brusati wearing No10 for the first time.
Ryan Bower returns at loosehead prop with Bronson Teles swapping jerseys with Campbell Robinson to start at lock. Mike Matarazzo takes over from Asa Carter on the blindside flank, and former Canada u20 hooker Dewald Kotze will make his debut as a replacement after finally being cleared from visa limbo.
Dallas put up a fight in March but their struggles since are well-documented. Seattle need a bonus point win and would prefer a big scoreline to help their points differential. Damp weather might hamper their ability to throw the ball around somewhat but it’s not enough to suggest anything other than a strong Seawolves win.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 9pm Central, 10pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on Root Sports in Seattle and TXA 21 in Dallas, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Andrew Durutalo, 7 Setefano Funaki, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Dan Kriel, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Duncan Matthews
Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Kellen Gordon, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Brad Tucker, 20 Tommy Clark, 21 Reid Watkins, 22 Lopeti Aisea, 23 Ross Neal
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Ryan Bower, 2 Matt Frings, 3 Herman Agenbag, 4 Bronson Teles, 5 Charlie Hola, 6 Mike Matarazzo, 7 Conrado Roura, 8 Adriaan Booysen, 9 Carlo de Nysschen, 10 Tom Brusati, 11 Cael Hodgson, 12 Chad London, 13 Campbell Johnstone, 14 Rodrick Waters, 15 Chris Pennell (capt.)
Replacements: 16 Dewald Kotze, 17 Liam Murray, 18 Alex Tucci, 19 Campbell Robinson, 20 Asa Carter, 21 Kurtis Werner, 22 Matoko Noudéhou, 23 Aaron Gray
Date: Sunday, May 8
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 19:00 local (21:00 Central, 22:00 Eastern)
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
Assistants: Brad Schwalger (Canada) & Brett Johnson (USA)
TMO: Shanda Assmus (Canada)
Broadcasts: Root Sports, The Rugby Network, TXA 21
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-03-19 – Dallas Jackals 12, Seattle Seawolves 34 (Choctaw Stadium)
